Richter's Diary

18^th Thawmist

The last few days have been uneventful. This festering rathole has poor hooch and little entertainment to speak of. The soldiers here are bored out of their gourds, and so is old Richter. Arder and I sat upon the battlements most nights looking out across the fetid jungle. The guards say that giant crocodiles lurk there, which not something I’d like to face. Arder usually has his face buried in his treasure map, it’s the only thing that causes his eyes to sparkle with life. Arder wants to retire when he gets rich.

“I want to open a little bakery in Kestizar, you know, add a little stability to my life.” He told me. His eyes growing wet, he turned towards the jungle so I couldn't see his tears, “I have a bastard in Kestizar. Hjorth is his name. A good strong lad. But I’ve given him nothing. I hardly know him.” Arder told me that once we get his treasure, Hjorth will have a reason to know his father, and an inheritance as well. Arder even jokes that he might marry the boy’s mother. Arder can be a sentimental old dog.

19^th Thawmist

We tried to make a little coin today. Alric, Arder and I tried to set up a gambling ring in the barrack of Rantar keep. We played the coin flipping game two up, usually this simple game works crowds into a frenzy, reaching for coin like salmon furiously feeding. No such luck though. We only made a few measly coppers. I gave these to Alric and Arder and bought us all drinks (if the swill served at Rantars Keep could be called that). I like Alric, he is a good warrior. Arder began raving about his treasure again, I had to remind him who’s boss around here. “Arder you sentimental dog,” I told him, “why don’t you try to find another sow to stick, go and make yourself another bastard!” I wish I hadn’t said that. Arder stormed off. He doesn’t want people knowing he abandoned a child. I tried to apologise, but the drink had gone to his head. Demiurge give me strength.

2^nd Dewsnap

We’ve decided to take a mission from Rantar to explore a keep to the south that lay on the other side of the jungle. Once we’ve helped the Castilian out with a little goblin trouble at that old ruin he will help us get supplied for our treasure hunt. On then! to claim some greenskin heads!

Later

The jungle is a hideous place, and believe me I know hideous! During our long trek across the jungle every recess of my body became sodden with pungent sweat! Plate mail is not the best outfit for this sort of travel. I need a horse! Even worse, during the whole march Arder was yammering into my ear hole; What about my treasure; Why aren’t we going for the treasure. Arder doesn’t understand that as a party we need to make joint decisions on our ventures. We’ll get to your treasure Arder! Shut up dog!

Later

We’ve made camp some two hundred yards from the ruined keep. Myst the elf, Reedo the halfling and that cunning lad Saha-Bhoy have gone under cover of darkness to collect recognisance.

Later

Our fellows return, they made way inside the ruin. It lacks a door! So at least that is good. But they heard a terrible cracking come from the earth. And they heard feral voices. I am ready for battle. Arder has gained some focus. Together, I tell him, we’ll have glorious victory. We prayed, he to his god, I to mine, and he asked for me to look out for his bastard should he die. I told him not to utter such things, lest they become true. We will be fine. At dawn we strike.

3rd Dewsnap

Oh lords of Chaos! Great Demiurge! Give me the power to exact my revenge! Every goblin in that foul place will die! I swear on the serpent, on the steel of my blade, they will all perish! Sweet Arder has gone the way of the tide, swept away back to the void. Arder, my boy, my dearest friend. Gone! Taken from me. Now, as I lay out his corpse and dig his grave in this foul place, all I can recall is how many times I was hurtful to him. That and I have his face tattooed on my arm for my remaining days! Mercy!

As dawn broke we approached the rear of the keep and climbed its walls using ropes. She's about as impregnable as a copper priced whore. But once we climbed to the battlements we were soon pinned down, rocks hailing from one tower and arrows from another. Alric and I bashed down a door to take cover, but Arder was hit, taken too soon. I saw my lad's wonderful bearded face torn ussunder by rocks. I entered a trance like state of rage. We killed as many goblins as we could. Alric and I threw one of the goblins from the battlements and enjoyed the whelps screaming. But we were outnumbered, so we fled. During our retreat I saw the elf Myst had also been killed, I saw him dissolved by some heinous liquid, reduced to jelly. I carried sweet Arder back to our camp. I vow to never shave again, in honour of Arders magnificent beard. I swear revenge. And I promise to look after his bastard when we return to Kastizar.

May Chaos guide this hand.